What do Mbps and Gbps really mean for internet users?

Knowing the difference between Mbps and Gbps is fundamental to choosing the right internet for your needs.

So, if you find yourself getting lost trying to understand all the figures, data and techie acronyms surrounding your internet service and how they impact the user experience, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

What are Mbps and Gbps?
Mbps stands for “megabits per second,” while Gbps means “gigabits per second.” Both are units of measure used to describe the speed of data transfer over an internet connection. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• 1 Mbps = 1 million bits per second
• 1 Gbps = 1 billion bits per second

In layman’s terms, 1 Gbps — commonly referred to as Gigabit internet — simply equates to 1,000 Mbps. The higher the number, the faster the internet connection. These measurements indicate how quickly data can be downloaded or uploaded from the internet.

Why do Mbps and Gbps matter?
The speed of your internet connection, measured in Mbps or Gbps, determines how efficiently you can perform tasks or enjoy entertainment online.

• Streaming videos: With Gigabit internet, you can forget about that spinning wheel while your video loads or buffers. All those 4K HD videos will look sharp (not pixelated), no matter how many devices are competing for bandwidth.
• Online gaming: High internet speeds with low latency will improve your gaming experience in very tangible ways, especially if multiple users share the connection. Gigabit internet means the difference between playing games and getting played.
• Video conferencing: As with gaming, the faster your computer or device can send and receive data, the better video chats will work. Opting for Gigabit internet means no more frozen screens.
• Downloading files: A 1 GB file will take approximately eight seconds to download on a 1 Gbps connection, but around 13 minutes on a 10 Mbps connection. Choose wisely.

Now, add those up and multiply by the internet users in your household, and you’ll see why speeds measured in Gbps are necessary for most homes today. And the needs will only grow as technology progresses, especially with AI-driven applications.

For additional reading, get up to speed with our series of educational articles on fiber internet, bandwidth, choosing the right internet speed, and the truth about downloads vs. uploads.

Check your address for fiber internet availability here.